Gemma Ercilla

Scientific progress Two main topics: Comprehension of Offshore Geomarine hazards: Progress on geomarine hazardous processes and features (seismic faults, landslides, canyonheads, volcanism, tsunamis) has allowed the understanding of their mechanisms (conditioning, triggers) and time scales, and identify new ones, all being critical for prevention and mitigation of catastrophic events and ocean governance. The progress is anchored in 2 key challenging points: to establish connections between hazardous processes in scenarios with multiple geohazards and their potential to cause cascading events; and to link offshore and onshore hazardous processes when active structures cross sea-land. Understanding Ocean and Climate interactions: Results are relevant because new geological models have arisen to explain: the underlying interaction mechanisms between eustatic, tectonic and oceanographic processes in continental margins; and recognition of their products in sedimentary register and criteria from distinguishing effects from global to local factors. To this end, fundamental questions presented as short-term challenges have been addressed: which are the palaeo-climatic, -oceanographic and -geographic implications of sedimentary systems? What is the influence of straits in infilling of basins (nearby and remote) and in regional to global circulation? What are the sedimentary consequences of geological convulsive events? A different milestone in my progress has been to define the sponges as an important sink of silicon in global oceans. The assumption was that other Si-consuming organisms apart from diatoms had been neglected. Mine is a multidisciplinary strategy with innovative data, concepts and methodologies from geology, geomorphology, sedimentology, geophysics, engineering, physical oceanography, and biology to address long-standing and fundamental questions in marine geosciences. Methods are rooted in a multi-scale approach that incorporates accurate direct and indirect field measurements, laboratory simulations and modelling. Contributions to Society Scientific progress has impacted society, i.e. industry and economic activities, public authorities and citizens. It has been supported by, and results and datasets transferred to: MEDGAZ, Telefonica España, Repsol-Petroleum Oil & Gas, SECEGSA, Consorcio Compensación Seguros, national and regional Port Authorities, Civil Protection. My insights have contributed to define the White Paper of CSIC scientific challenges towards 2030. Outreach activities have promoted dialogue between scientists and public, via interactions with mass media, such as TV (eg, Orbita Laika, T6-RTVE), national/international newspapers; magazines (e.g., Newton, Muy Interesante); books and comics; talks to schools/library/ Young Persons Prison (6); conferences (invited by e.g., UPV, U Vigo, SGE, Al-Hoceima Foundt); round tables (UPV, IUPM); educational resource development (Technical training course) Contributions to rising talent Rising talent in my scientific topics has involved recruiting new talent at national and international universities via TFMs (6), TFGs (7), tutorials (10), Erasmus+(3), and PhD (8); tribunals for PhD Defenses (4), project evaluations (5), selection of candidates for Juan de la Cierva (2020), permanent (3) and contract jobs (12). Teaching at Universities (14 years in Master of U. Cádiz; IUMP). The research has allowed the fostering of a national (CSIC, IEO-CSIC, IGME-CSIC, IHM, ROA, 6 universities), pan-European (4 research institutes and 7 universities from six countries), Morocco (3 universities) and American (4 organizations) collaboration in marine geohazard and climate-ocean interaction. This culture of collaboration has allowed me to develop useful leadership skills to engage researchers with different backgrounds and career stages (early, senior) in interactions with each other and with a wider community of coastal, marine and maritime stakeholders, and to build Consortiums as the BARACA and ESMI (infraia-02-2020) Proposal (European Seafloor Mapping and Interpretation– Geohazards); DAMAGE; MOWER; GRACE, among others; and participate in others (e.g. FAUCES, PAPEL, AGORA). Another example of leaderships is that I have been in charge of the Continental Margins Group at ICM-CSIC during 10 years, where I am also in charge of the Geological collections Service. I am member of the OCEAN MPDI, GEOLOGICA ACTA editorial boards.